Forms for sectional precast feed bunkers



May 14, 1963 A; A. SWITLICK 3,089,216

FORMS FOR SECTIONAL PRECASTFEED BUNKERS Filed June 15, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Anton A. .Swfi/ic/r 1N VEN TOR.

- I wan am May 14, 1963 A. A. SWlTLl CK FORMS FOR SECTIONAL PRECAST FEEDBUNKER-S Filed June 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

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Fig. 6 74 Anton A. Swirl/ck INVENTOR.

BY Qwaoiu fiice Patented May 14, 1963 3,089,216 FORMS FUR SECTIONALPRECAST FEED BUNKERS Antcn A. Switlick, Omro, Wis, assignor to ValleyPre-Cast Bunks, Inc., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 15, 1960,Ser. No. 36,272 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-121) This invention relates to theconstruction of a sectional concrete mold or form for precastingsections of a feed bunker or the like.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a concretemold which is formed from the assembly of concrete forming sections tothereby produce precast concrete sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide concrete form assembliesparticularly designed to form sections of a feed bunker.

The feed bunkers made in accordance with this invention are assembledfrom concrete sections having an I-bearn type cross-section with thesections being assembled end-to-end to form a bunker of any desiredlength. The channels formed by the I-beam sections on one sideconstitute a feeding trough while the channel formed by the other sideof the I-beam sections constitute the supporting leg portions for thefeed bunker trough. In casting the bunker sections appropriate plugs orholes are formed therein for mounting of a guide rail along the feedbunker and for also mounting an auger feed mechanism for distributingthe feed along the trough portion of the feed bunker. The novel concreteform assembly construction of this invention is therefore provided forforming the desired shape precast concrete sections of the feed bunker,said form assemblies being readily assembled and disassembled therebyenabling the casting of a large number of bunker sections therefrom withunexpected rapidity, accuracy and uniformity.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the concrete form or mold made inaccordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the precast concrete section producedfrom the mold illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by thesection line 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 5-5 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 66 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by thesection line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 8-8 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a guard rail post which may be mountedon the concrete section made in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the mounting hole forming devicewhich may be attached to the concrete mold or form made in accordancewith this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the concrete mold or form made inaccordance with this invention is generally designated by the referencenumeral 10 and illustrated in FIGURE 1. The precast concrete sectionformed from said mold 10 is illustrated in FIGURE 2 and is generallyindicated by reference numeral 12. It will be observed that the precastconcrete section 12 so formed resembles an I-beam in cross-section whichwhen placed in a horizontal position includes an upper channel portionconstituted by a web portion 14 and parallel flange portions 16 and 18,said web portion 14 and flange portions 16 and 18 constituting a sectionof a trough of the feed bunker formed by an assembly of sections 12 inend-to-end relation to each other. The lower channel portion of section12 which is formed by web portion 14 and lower flange portions 20 and 22constitute the supporting leg portions of the feed bunker. It will alsobe observed that apertures 24 and 26 are provided at the ends of eachsection 12 at the intersection of the web portion 14- and the sideflanges, said apertures 24 and 26 being provided for alignment pinsthrough which a plurality of precast sections 12 may be assembledend-to-end to form the feed bunker.

It will also be observed that a plurality of apertures 28 are formedwithin each section 12 adjacent one end thereof on the upper edge of theflange portions 16 and 18. The apertures 28 are provided for the purposeof mounting on the flange portions 16' and 18 a guard rail post 30 thedetail of which is illustrated in FIGURE 9. The guard rail post 30includes a flange portion 32 having apertures 34 therein which arealigned with the apertures 28 on the precast concrete section 12 formounting of the post thereon. It will also be observed in FIGURE 2 thatat one end of the web portion 14 there are provided a pair of apertures36 whereby the supporting frame for an auger feed mechanism may besimilarly mounted on the precast concrete section 12. It will also beobserved that the trough portion of the bunker section 12 formed by theflange portions 16 and 18 are somewhat shallower than the channelportions formed by the flange portions 20 and 22.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the mold assembly 10from which the concrete precast section 12 is cast is formed by a pairof channel-shaped sections 38 and 40 with the channel section 38 beingslightly shallower than the channel section 40'. The channel sectionsare interconnected by side panels 42 and 44. It will be observed thatthe two channel sections 38 and 48 are similar in construction exceptfor the slight difference in the depth of the channels formed therebyand hence the constructional details that are hereafter described withrespect to channel section 38 will also apply to the channel section 44]unless otherwise specified.

The channel section 38 includes a web portion 46 which is integral withsides 48 and '50 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. Also integral withthe sides 48 and 50 are flanges 52 and 54. It will therefore be apparentthat the channel forming section 38 forms the upper trough or channelportion of the precast concrete section 12.

In FIGURE 1 it will be observed that a plurality of spaced reinforcingmembers 56 are attached to the channel section 38, said reinforcingmembers 56 having an inner peripheral portion which conforms to thechannelshaped portion of the section 38. The reinforcing members 56 aretherefore fastened as by welding tothe section 38 and therefore servesto maintain the channelshaped surface of section 38 rigid and capable ofwithstanding any shape distorting pressures from the concrete beingcast. As an additional brace for the reinforcing members 56 a tubularbracing arrangement is provided for some of the reinforcing members aswill be seen in FIGURE 1, said bracing arrangement including a rod orbar 58 which is bent at an obtuse angle and welded to the reinforcingmember 56 with the ends thereof abutting against the inner section ofthe web 46 and the sides 48 and 50 of the section 38. Also, a centralrod or bar 68 is welded to the central portion of the reinforcing member56 and to the vertex of the angle formed by the bar 58 to thereby form atruss-like arrangement for further bracing the channel section 33.

As will be more clearly seen in FIGURE 3, longitudinally disposed edgestiffening members 62 and 64 of angle iron are welded along the outeredge portion of the flanges 52 and 54 of the channel section 3 8, thesemembers 62 and 64 enabling the channel section 38 to be properly alignedas will hereafter become apparent. It will also be observed that theouter ends of the reinforcing members 56 are notched so as to fit overthe leg of the angle members to which the flanges 52 and 54 are attachedwhile the outer edge of the reinforcing members abut against the otherlegs of the angle members 62 and 64- so as to maintain the projectinglegs of the angle members 62 and 64 properly spaced from each other andperpendicular to the flanges 52 and 54.

The channel section 38 with the reinforcing members 56 attached theretoand the additional bracing arrangement 58-60 also attached thereto andthe assembly angle members 62 and 64 also welded thereto are maintainedin spaced relation to a similar assembly including the other channelsection 49, said assemblies being interconnected in spaced relation toeach other by means of the side panel assemblies 42 and 44. Both of theside panel assemblies 42 and 44 are identical in construction. Sidepanel assembly 42 for example includes a panel member 66 which abutsagainst and is aligned with the projecting flanges of the assembly anglemembers attached to the flanges of the channel sections 38 and 40whereby the channel sections will be properly spaced apart relative tothe side panel members. Also attached to the side panel members 66 areangle members 68 which are thereby disposed in back-to-back relationshipwith the angle members 62 and 64 on the channel sections with the sidepanel members 66 disposed therebetween. The side panel assemblies arealso reinforced by transverse rib members 70 arranged perpendicular to acentrally disposed longitudinal rib member 72 as is more clearly seen inFIGURE 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the anglemembers 62 and 64 on the channel sections cooperating with the anglemembers 68 on the side panel members 66 provide means for properlyaligning the channel sections to form an accurate and uniform concretemold and also provide means for securing the sections to each other withthe requisite holding force necessary to withstand the pressures on themold sides. It will therefore be observed in FIGURE 4, that a pluralityof assembling pins 74 are provided for interconnecting the projectinglegs of the flanges 62 and 68 or 64 and 68 while connecting bolts 76 arealso disposed on the flanges to hold the sections together.

The sections 38 and 40 when placed against the side panel assemblies 42and 44 may be accurately aligned thereagainst before securing theassembly together by means of the assembling or alignment pins 74 whichare inserted into apertures formed in the projecting legs of anglemembers 62 and 68 and in the side panel member 66 disposed therebetweenas Will be apparent in FIGURE 5. The aligning pin 74 is of taperedconfiguration so that it may be readily inserted through the aperturesprior to perfect alignment thereof and by forcing the pin 74 inwardly,its tapered sides will wedge the misaligned apertures into perfectalignment as will be apparent from FIGURE 5.

After the mold assembly has been perfectly aligned in the mannerhereinabove indicated, the assembly is then connected in its alignedcondition by means of the bolt 76 as will be more clearly seen inFIGURES 6 and 7. Slots 78, 8t) and 82 are provided in the angle member62 or 64, side panel member 66 and angle member 68 respectively so thatthe connecting bolt 76 may extend therethrough when said slots arealigned after proper align- 4 ment of the angle member and side panelmember. The bolts 76 have a threaded nut 84 and lock washer 86 providedthereon so that the assemblies may thereby be bolted together in alignedassembled position with the requisite holding force.

Referring once again to the precast concrete section 12 illustrated inFIGURE 2, it will be recalled that apertures 28 and 36 are providedtherein for the purpose of mounting on the section guide rail post 30and possibly an auger feed mechanism frame respectively. Apparatus istherefore provided which may be attached to the channel section 38 forthe purpose of forming the mounting apertures 28 and 36 in the castsection 12. For example, the apertures 36 are formed by means of a nutmember 38 which is embedded in the concrete section 12 and spaced fromthe surface thereof by means of a spacer sleeve as will be more clearlyseen in FIGURE 8. The nut member 88 and spacer sleeve 90 are held inassembled position on the channel section 38 by means of a shaft member92 which has a threaded portion $4 at its inner end which is threadedlyengaged with the nut member 85, said shaft member 92 having a slottedportion 96 at its other end which is assembled with a lock member 98slidably inserted through a pair of supporting flanges 109 which aresecured to the web portion 46 of the channel section 38 by welding. Thesupporting flanges 160 are disposed on either side of an aperture 102formed in the web portion 46 of the channel section 38 through which theshaft member 92 extends. The position of the supporting flanges and thelock member 598 on the channel section 38 is more clearly shown inFIGURE 1.

Similar means is provided for the formation of the'aperture 28 on theupper edge portions of the channel flanges 16 and 18. Accordingly,apertures 104 are provided for example on the flange 54- of the channelsection 38 as will be seen in FIGURE 1. As will be seen in FIG- URE 10 amounting structure isprovided which is similar to the one shown inFIGURE 8 but includes a pair *of such mounting structures. The structureshown in FEGURE 10 is therefore attached to the flanges 54 and 52 of thechannel section 38 with the shaft members 166 thereof being insertedthrough the apertures 104, said shaft members 106 being provided withspacing sleeves 90 and threaded not members 88 identical with thoseprovided for the shaft member 92 illustrated in FIGURE 8. The shaftmembers 106 are also similarly assembled on the channel section 38 bymeans of lock members 103 and 110 which are secured to tWo sets ofsupporting flanges 112 and 114 spaced apart and connected to 'a mountingmember 116 which is welded to the flanges 54 of the channel section'38if so desired.

From the foregoing description, assembly and disassembly of the concretemold 10 made in accordance with this invention will be apparent. It willtherefore be recognized that this invention features a sectional moldwhich may be readily assembled and disassembled and usable for anunlimited number of times to form precast concrete sections of uniformdimensions the latter attribute of the invention being made possible byrapid and accurate alignment of the mold sections by means of thetapered aligning pin 74 cooperating with the angle members on thechannel sections and on the side panels with additional and subsequentlyadded connecting means for holding the mold sections in assembledposition with the requisite force. Furthermore, the uniformity andaccuracy is also realized because of the provision of the novelreinforcing members which not only prevent distortion of the channelsections but maintain the assembly angle members rigidly in spacedrelation and preventing distortion thereof which would otherwise reducethe accuracy of their aligning function.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sectional precast concrete form assembly comprising a pair ofopposed channel-shaped panels, each having a web, two substantiallyperpendicularly extending sides, and flanges extending approximatelyperpendicularly outward from the outer end of each side and parallel tothe web, the channel side of said panels constituting the rear surfaceof the panels and the opposite side of said panels constituting theshape forming surfaces of the panels, said panels being positioned withthe shape forming surfaces facing each other so as to form asubstantially I-shaped mold, longitudinally disposed angle iron edgestiffening members each having one leg welded along said outwardlyextending flanges and the second leg projecting outwardly perpendicularto the rear surface, said second leg being provided with spaced aligningapertures and spaced slots; a pair of side panels, each having a shapeforming surface and a rear surface, said side panels including anglemembers attached to the rear surface at the edges thereof so as toprovide at each edge, one leg juxtaposed to said side panel and anotherleg perpendicular thereof, said juxtaposed leg and the subjacent side ofsaid side panel having aligned aligning apertures and slots spaced so asto correspond to the apertures and slots in said stiffening members,means connecting said side panels to said first mentioned pair ofopposed panels and spacing said opposed panels in predetermined spacedrelation to each other, said means comprising tapered alignment pinsreceived within the apertures for fine positioning of the panelsrelative to each other, and bolt means extending through said slots forlocking the panels together after alignment, said side panels beingreinforced by longitudinal and transverse rib members, said tr-ansverserib members extending between and abutting the perpendicular legs of theangle members secured to the side panels, and reinforcing ribsintegrally connected to and conforming to the web, sides and outwardlyextending flanges of the rear surface of the first mentioned pair ofchannel-shaped panels, the end-s of said reinforcing ribs extending intoabutting relationship with the stiffening angles secured to theoutwardly extending flanges of said first mentioned panels.

2. A sectional precast concrete form assembly comprising a pair ofopposed channel-shaped panels, each having a web, two substantiallyperpendicularly extending sides, and flanges extending approximatelyperpendicularly outward from the outer end of each side and parallel tothe web, the channel side of said panels constituting the rear surfaceof the panels and the opposite side of said panels constituting theshape forming surfaces of the panels, said panels being positioned withthe shape forming surfaces facing each other so as to form asubstantially I-shaped mold, longitudinally disposed angle iron edgestiffening members each having one leg welded along said outwardlyextending flanges and the second leg projecting outwardly perpendicularto the rear surface, said second leg being provided with spaced aligningapertures and spaced slots; a pair of side panels, each having -a shapeforming surface and a rear surface, said side panels including anglemembers attached to the rear surface at the edges thereof so as toprovide at each edge, one leg juxtaposed to said side panel and anotherleg perpendicular thereof, said juxtaposed leg and the subjacent side ofsaid side panel having aligned aligning apertures and slots spaced so asto correspond to the apertures and slots in said stiffening members,means connecting said side panels to said first men tioned pair ofopposed panels and spacing said opposed panels in predetermined spacedrelation to each other, said side panel being reinforced by rib membersextending between and abutting the perpendicular legs of the anglemembers secured to the side panels, and reinforcing ribs integrallyconnected to and conforming to the web, sides and outwardly extendingflanges of the rear surface of the first mentioned pair ofchannel-shaped panels, the ends of said reinforcing ribs extending intoabutting relationship with the stiffening angles secured to theoutwardly extending flanges of said first mentioned panels.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said channel-shapedpanels is slightly shallower than the other.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 1 including bracing memberscomprising bars bent at an obtuse angle and welded to the reinforcingribs and abutting against the rear surface of the channel-shaped panelswhere the web and sides meet, and second bars, each welded to thecentral portion of a reinforcing rib and the vertex of the angle of acorresponding bent bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,117,519 Robertson Nov. 17, 1914 1,602,035 McLaughlin Oct. 5, 19261,970,547 Anderson Aug. 21, 1934 2,055,977 Hayes Sept. 29, 19362,307,678 Hayes Jan. 5, 1943 2,366,401 Haskell Jan. 2, 1945 2,378,814Wascher June 19, 1945 2,610,381 Rosati Sept. 16, 1952 2,762,105 AvrilSept. 11, 1956 2,816,345 Symons Dec. 17, 1957 2,818,629 Wedberg Jan. 7,1958 2,823,442 Miller Feb. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 802,058 Germany Feb.1, 1951

2. A SECTIONAL PRECAST CONCRETE FORM ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OFOPPOSED CHANNEL-SHAPED PANELS, EACH HAVING A WEB, TWO SUBSTANTIALLYPERPENDICULARLY EXTENDING SIDES, AND FLANGES EXTENDING APPRIXIMATELYPERPENDICULARLY OUTWARD FROM THE OUTER END OF EACH SIDE AND PARALLEL TOTHE WEB, THE CHANNEL SIDE OF SAID PANELS CONSTITUTING THE REAR SURFACEOF THE PANELS AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PANELS CONSTITUTING THESHAPE FORMING SURFACES OF THE PANELS, SAID PANELS BEING POSITIONED WITHTHE SHAPE FROMING SURFACES FACING EACH OTHER SO AS TO FORM ASUBSTANTIALLY I-SHAPED MOLD, LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED ANGLE IRON EDGESTIFFENING MEMBERS EACH HAVING ONE LEG WELDED ALONG SAID OUTWARDLYEXTENDING FLANGES AND THE SECOND LEG PROJECTING OUTWARDLY PERPENDICULARTO THE REAR SURFACE, SAID SECOND LEG BEING PROVIDED WITH SPACED ALIGNINGAPERTURES AND SPACED SLOTS; A PAIR OF SIDE PANELS, EACH HAVING A SHAPEFORMING SURFACE AND A REAR SURFACE, SAID SIDE PANELS INCLUDING ANGLEMEMBERS ATTACHED TO THE REAR SURFACE AT THE EDGES THEREOF SO AS TOPROVIDE AT EACH